Fluid control applicator



March 23, 1943'; E HOLLENBECK 2,314,538

FLUID CONTROL APPLICATOR Filed Aug. 5, 1941 INVENTOR.

Ewesillfiilenbeck,

, Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID CONTROLAPPLICATOE Ernest L. Hollenbeck, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August5, 1941, Serial No. 405,503

5 Claims.

My invention relates to fluid control appli-' cators of the characterembodied in my copending application Ser. No. 321,621, filed March 1,1940, now Patent No. 2,282,406, May 12, 1942.

It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a fluid controlapplicator which is characterized by its structural simplicity, low costof manufacture, and the embodiment therein of a fluid feed regulatorwhich is permanently associated with the applicator assembly in orderto? prevent accidental detachment and loss of the regulator.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a fluid controlapplicator having a feed duct, and ports leading to opposed surfaces ofa flexible spreader tongue, for supplying fluid to" such surfaces, sothat as the tongue is flexed first in one direction and then the otherin the manner of a paint brush, the fluid can be applied to and spreadevenly over a surface to be coated.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a fluid controlapplicator embodying a fluid feed regulator which is manually operableto vary the size of the ports and to thereby control the quantity offluid discharged from the ports.

A further purpose of my invention is the proform of fluid controlapplicator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a viewshowing the applicator of Fig. 1 in side elevation andwith a portion thereof in section, the applicatlng strip being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the regulator of theapplicator adjusted to open the ports, as distinguished from the closedports and corresponding adjustment of the, regulator as illustrated inFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, andshowing the applicator applied to the neck of a bottle.

Fig. 6 is a view showing in plan another form of fluid controlapplicator embodying my invention, with the applicating strip thereofomitted.

Fig. '7 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 6 in side elevation andwith the applicating strip applied and a portion thereof broken away.

-Fig. 8 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 7 in edge elevation,and with a portion thereof in section.

'Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 7 is bottom plan. I

Fig. 11 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 7 inverted and appliedto the neck of a bottle, a portion of the applicator tongue being insection Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each ofthe several views.

Referring first to the form of fluid control applicator illustrated inFigs. 1 to 5, such applicator comprises, in the present instance, anelongated and tapered body I5 having a circu lar base I 6 formed with anannular flange IT. The body l5 merges into a spreader tongue l8, whichlatter is likewise tapered. The elements just described constitute anintegral structure or assembly which is molded from a single piece offlexible and resilient material, such as rubber.

The body 15 is formed with rounded edges [5a, [5a and flat sides I5b,I51), the latter being formed with longitudinal extending grooves I9,the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. its best shown inFigs. 2, 4, 5 the applicator assembly is molded with a feed duct 20which extends through the base l6 and inwardly of the body I 5 to apoint where the latter merges into the tongue l8.

Two ports 2| are provided in the side |5b of the body !5, by slittingthe body longitudinally and centrally for a portion of its length. Theseports provide communication between the duct 20 and the sides l5b, butby reason of the resiliency of the material of which the assembly isformed, such ports are normally closed to prevent the emission of fluidfrom the ports.

At the upper or outer ends/of the ports 2|, pockets'ZZ, 22 are providedwhich serve as seats for a valve, as will be later described. Adjacentthe pockets 22 recesses 23, 23 are formed in opposite sides of the body!5. These recesses are preferably semi-circular in form, and they serveto reduce the thickness of the rubber at the entrance ends of the portsM for the purpose of facilitating movement of the valve into the ports.

As shown in Fig.1, the spreader tongue I8 is provided at its free endswith an applicating strip 24 of fabric, or the like, the strip beingsecured to the tongue by a staple 25.

For opening the ports 2| and regulating the degree of opening of suchports, a fluid feed regulator is provided. This regulator is designatedgenerally as R, and, in the present instance, comprises a yoke 26 formedof wire and substantially of rectangular configuration. This yoke has anupwardly extending portion 21, the

free end of which is bent at right angles to pro- As the regulator R, isapplied" vide a valve 28. to the applicator assembly, the yoke 26 isextended about the body l so that the end portions of the yoke havefrictional contact with the edges Hia for the purpose of holding theregulator in any position of adjustment along the length of the body l5.The valve 28 is extended through the pockets 22, but is movabledownwardlyto open the ports 2| by forcing the yoke downwardly on thebody i5, as will be understood from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3.

To associate the aforedescribed applicator to a, bottle or otherreceptacle containing a liquid such as liquid shoe dressing, I employ ametal cap C (Fig. 5) whichmay screw on or be otherwise secured to theneck end of the bottle. cap is formed with an opening 29 in which isreceived the base It, the flange being interposed between and clamped bythe cap and the bottle neck tohold the applicator in proper position onthe bottle neck.

With the applicator applied to the bottle as justdescribed and thebottle containing a liquid shoe dressing, such liquid may be applied tothe surface of a shoe by manipulating the bottle and applicator asfollows: By inverting the bottle and applicator and using the former asa handle, the applicatin strip may be worked back and forth over theshoe surface in the manner of a paint brush, the tongue l8 being flexedfirstin one direction and then the other.

To permit discharge of the liquid the ports 2| are opened by forcing theregulator R. inwardly on the body l5, or from the position shown in Fig.2 to that shown in Fig. 3. Under such movement of the regulator thevalve 28 passes from the pockets 22 inwardly of the slits to spread thelatter and thus open the ports. With opening of the ports the liquid isfree to flow from the duct v2 3 outwardly of the ports 2| to opposedsurfaces of the tongue I8, and finally to the appiicating strip 24.Thus, by repeated oscillation of the tongue is the liquid, as fed to theapplicating strip, can be applied to the surface of the shoe. Thegrooves 59 serve to prevent the liquid from flowing off of the edges ofthe body l5, and.

to direct liquid toward the applicating strip.

Manifestly, through manipulation of the yoke 25, the valve 28 can beadjusted lengthwise of the ports to vary the degree of opening of thelatter, and thereby regulate the flow of liquid to a nicety and inkeeping with the particular requirement. However, once the valve isreturned to the pockets 2!! the ports close to prevent further emissionof liquid.

Referring to the second form of fluid control applicator as illustratedin Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, here again th applicator assembly is aunitary structure of rubber or other suitably resilient and flexiblematerial. This assembly comprises a body 35 having an annular flange 3|,a spreader tongue 32 which is tapered but flat to present This or glued,to the tongue.

menting, the tongue at its sides 32a. is provided opposed surfaces 32a,32a, and a pair of tapered flap valves 33 flanking the tongue.

Interiorly the body 3|] is formed with a fluid feed duct 34 which istapered, as shown in dash lines in Fig. '7. The valves 33 are formed bysplitting the body 30 longitudinally at opposite sides of the tongue,and in order that these valves may remain attached to the body, thesplits terminate short of the bottom of the body.

As in the first form of my invention, the tongue 32 carries anapplicating strip 35 of suitable fabric, but in this instance the stripis cemented To facilitate such cewith grooves 36 which form channels inwhich the cement is received, thereby providing a more secure bondbetween the tongue and strip.

The grooves'36 may extend the entire length of the tongue, in which casethose portions of the grooves/to the sides of the valves 33, function toprevent the liquid as emitted from the duct, from flowing to and off theedges of the tongue. grooves also direct the'flow of fluid to theapplicating strip 35, and augment the flexibility of the tongue.

For regulating the quantity of liquid emitted from the duct 34, aregulator R is provided. This regulator is made of relatively light andresilient wire, and comprises a U-shaped yoke 31 having its free endsbent to form a pair of confronting trunnions 33 rotatably seated inrecesses 39 of the valves 33 (Fig. 8). Protuberances 4|), 40 in theshape of beads are formed on the outer sides of the valves 33 to beembraced by the parallel portions of the yoke 31, and by Virtue of theirresiliency to frictionally retain the regulator R in any position towhich it can be swung.

As in the first form of my invention, the present applicator is adaptedto be mounted on the neck N (Fig. 11) of a bottle or other receptaclecontaining a liquid such as shoe dressing. For this purpose a cap Csimilar to the cap C is employed to embrace the flange 3| and securelyhold thekapplicator in proper position on the bottle nec In the use ofmy applicator, the regulator R first is swung to the broken lineposition shown in Fig. 7, whereupon by using the bottle as a handle theapplicating fabric 35 is worked back and forth over the surface of theshoe. Normally, the valves 33 lie in close contact with opposite sidesof the tongue I8 so that opposite sides of the outer end of the duct 34are closed. However, with the valves free and the tongue l8 subjected toa back i and forth motion, the latter is flexed first in one directionand then the other to such an extent that first one valve and then theother is so flexed as to leave the unflexed valve spread away from theadjacent face of the tongue. This allows liquid to flow from the duct 34first to one side 2a of the tongue and then the other, and from there tothe applicating fabric 35, thereby constantly supplying liquid to theapplicating fabric. v

When the regulator R is in the solidline position shown in Fig. 7, theouter ends of the protuberances 43 are engaged by the yoke 3'5, tosecure the flap valves 33 against flexing even when the tongue i8 isflexed, so that there can be no escape of liquid. However, when theregulator is adjusted toward the broken line position shown in Fig. 7,the flap valves may be flexed to a degree which increases with suchadjustment. As the degree to which the valves may be flexed controls thequantity of flow of fluid from the duct,

The

it will be clear that the quantity flow is directly controllable byadjustment of the regulator.

In practical use of the applicator and bottle, the regulator R normallyoccupies the position shown in solid lines in Fig. '7, wherein thevalves 33 are engaged by the yoke to prevent such flexing of the tonguel8 and the valves as would cause the valves to open and allow liquid tobe discharged from the duct 34. However, upon moving the regulator tothe broken line position shown in Fig. '7, or any position intermediatethis and the position shown in solid lines, the valves are partially orfully released to permit them to flex under flexing movements of thetongue.

I claim:

1. In a fluid control applicator, a body of resilient material, a tongueof resilient and flexible material, a duct in said body, ports in saidbody leading from said duct to points exteriorly of said body and urgedto closed position, a valve for adjustably opening said ports, andjmeans frictionally engaging said body for retaining said valve in anyposition of adjustment.

2. In a fluid control applicator, a body of resilient material having aduct therein and ports leading from said duct to opposed surfaces ofsaid body, said ports urged to closed position, a flexible tongue onsaid body, and a manually operable regulator for said ports, comprisinga valve,

and a member secured to the valve and adjustable on said body foractuating and holding said valve in adjusted positions in respect tosaid ports.

3. In a fluid control applicator, a body of re silient material having aduct therein arid ports leading from said duct to opposed surfaces ofsaid body, said ports urged to closed position, a flexible tongue onsaid body, and a manually operable regulator for said ports, comprisinga yoke adjustable on said body but frictionally held in adjustedpositions thereon, and a valve fixed to said yoke so as to be movabletherewith to occupy corresponding positions of adjustment.

4. In a fluid control applicator, a body of resilient material having aduct therein and slit to form ports leading to said duct but urged toclosed position, a flexible tongue on said body, pockets at one end ofsaid ports, a valve normally seated in said pockets, and a member towhich said valve is secured, said member frictionally embracing saidbody so as to be adjustable thereon for moving said valve from saidpockets into and opening said ports.

5. In a fluid control applicator as embodied in claim 4, wherein thematerial about said pockets is relatively thin to facilitate movement ofsaid valve out of the pockets into said ducts.

ERNEST L. HOLLENBECK.

